How should chestnut trees be managed to achieve a high yield?
How should chestnut trees be managed for a high yield? Please give guidance. Chestnut trees can be managed by referring to the following methods: 1. Fertilization. In spring, before flowering, apply 300-400 g of urea and 200-300 g of superphosphate per tree, and broadcast 6-7 g of borax per sq m of ground. In July, during the fruit burr swelling stage, apply fruit-swelling fertilizer and a three-element compound fertilizer at 0.7-...
How should chestnut trees be managed for a high yield? Please give guidance.
Chestnut trees can be managed by referring to the following methods:
1. Fertilization. In spring, before flowering, apply 300-400 g of urea and 200-300 g of superphosphate per tree, and broadcast 6-7 g of borax per sq m of ground. In July, during the fruit burr swelling stage, apply fruit-swelling fertilizer and a three-element compound fertilizer at 0.7-1 kg per tree. From June to October, drench the tree with a solution of 5 g of borax and 5 g of paclobutrazol per sq m. Apply once every 30 days, 3-4 times in total. After harvest, apply a heavy winter fertilizer, with 40-50 kg of pig or cattle manure or farmyard manure and 0.7-1.5 kg of calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer per tree. In addition, during the flowering period, spray a mixture of 0.2% borax solution, 0.3% urea and 0.2% monopotassium phosphate once every 10 days, for two consecutive sprays, to increase the fruit-setting rate. During the fruit growth period, spray a mixture of 0.3% urea, 0.2% monopotassium phosphate and 800 times mancozeb once every 20 days to promote the growth and development of branches, leaves and fruit. After harvest, spray 10 ppm 2,4-D solution once to promote flower bud differentiation and nutrient accumulation.
2. Pruning. Chestnut trees are light-loving. Promptly thin out excessively vigorous extension shoots and dense, thin, weak branches so that the tree body is well ventilated and receives light. In spring, do a good job of controlling and removing shoots to promote secondary shoots. Remove overly dense and weak male flower inflorescences as early as possible. Fruit-bearing branches with female flowers can be cut back or pinched at 3-4 nodes above the female flower inflorescence. For vigorous chestnut trees that do not flower for years or only produce male flowers, the main branches can be girdled with wire for 1-2 turns, or spiral girdling can be used to promote flower quantity and female flower formation. Wire girdling is carried out in August-September and removed before the tree body sprouts the following year. Girdling or scoring is carried out in September-October and must not damage the xylem.
3. Fruit retention. Chestnut is a fruit tree with cross-pollination on the same plant, so more than two pollinating varieties should be planted in the orchard to facilitate pollination. When only one variety is available, artificial pollination can be used to retain fruit. During full bloom, collect male flowers before 10 a.m. or after 3 p.m. on rainless days for artificial pollination. When there are many trees or the trees are tall, a gauze bag mixed with 3-4 times the amount of starch can be shaken within the canopy for pollination, once every 3-4 days, for two consecutive times. When chestnut trees set too much fruit, thin the fruit promptly, keeping the leaf-to-fruit ratio at 20:1-25:1. On medium and short fruit-bearing branches, 1-2 fruit burrs can be retained; on flowering and fruit-bearing branches, 2-3 fruit burrs can be retained. Keep fruit in the middle part on vigorous branches, and keep fruit at the tip on short fruit-bearing branches. Thin out small, deformed, overly dense, pest- and disease-damaged and empty burr fruit.
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